Finishing wheel



Jan. 19, 1965 E- E. MURRAY FINISHING WHEEL Filed Feb. '7, 1963 LLLLJmL:

United States Patent Uhlice Patented `lan. 19, 1965 3,165,867 FINISHING WHEEL Ernest E. Murray, 6765 Meadow Lake, Birmingham, Mich. Filed Feb. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 256,988 7 Claims. (Cl. 51-33d) 'Ihis invention relates to finishing or work wheels and more specifically to that type of finishing wheel comprised of a plurality of annularly disposed flaps.

In the flap type Work wheel it is conventional practice for the flaps to be fixed together at their radially innermost ends by means of a resin or some other type binding agent or adhesive. With this type of construction the wheel is quite stiff, not only at the center or hub portion, but also for some distance away. The wearout point of the fiaps of such a wheel will be at a portion of the wheel Where the flaps are flexible or at a point some distance from the center portion. It is conventional practice to form the flaps of a uniform material which may be treated for a specific purpose; for example, in an abrading flap wheel one entire surface of each flap will have an abrasive coating.V With this type of construction a considerable portion'of the abrasive surface of the flaps will be unused. It is an object of this invention to provide a wheel of the above described type in which the amount of treated surface on the flaps which is unused is decreased. It is another object of this invention to provide a work wheel comprising flaps having abrasive surfaces in which the amount of abrasive surfaces which is unused is decreased.

It is desirable that a work wheel be flexible and able to readily conform to the contour to be finished. Therefore, it is still another object of this invention to provide a work wheel of the above described type having a construction in which the Working surfaces of the flaps are maintained flexible.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects, and other objects and features of the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention when read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal side view taken substantially along a diameter of a work wheel embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the wheel of' FIGURE l taken substantially along the line 2-2 in FIGURE 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the wheel of FIGURE l taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIG. 4 is a view sirnilar to that shown in FIGURE 2 of a work wheel having a modified flap construction; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal side view of the modified work Wheel of FIGURE 4.

Looking now at FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, a work or finishing wheel generally indicated by the numeral 10, is shown to be coaxially mounted upon a reduced diameter portion 13 of an arbor 12 and to be axially held thereon by a nut 11 on the threaded free end of portion 13 and by a shoulder 15 defined at the opposite end.

The work Wheel has a plurality of flaps 14 annularly disposed to define a central hub portion 17. Each flap 14 has a support member 16, which can be made of resinated cloth or some other suitable material, and a work member 1S. The work member 18 can be abrasively coated cloth or paper and has its radially innermost extremity partially overlapping the radially outer extremity of the support member 16 and is attached thereto by a plurality of staples 20. In addition, the overlapping portions can be firmly secured together by a suitable adhesive. Note that While the Work member 1S is abrasively coated, the support member 16 is not.

The axially outer ends of each of the support members 16 have notches 22 which receives similarly contoured radially outer ends of a pair of annular flanges 24. The flanges 24 have a central bore 26 of a diameter just slightly larger than the reduced diameter portion 13 of the arbor 12 and are coaxially disposable thereon. The support member 16 also has a pair of axially spaced notches 28 in its radially inner end. Each of a pair of annular intermediate annular anges 30, which can be stamped or formed by some other process, has a hooked portion 32 at its radially outer extremity which is located within the notches 28. The hooked portion 32 is smaller than the notch 28; the notches 28 are filled with a resin or other similar type binding agent whereby the intermediate flanges 30 are permanently fixed to the flap 16. The notches 28, in extending radially outwardly are provided to generally be of an increasing width to further aid the attachment between the intermediate flanges 30 and the support members 16 by the resin.

The radially inner extremity of each of the intermediate flanges 3f) terminates in an axially extending flange portion 3S which defines an aperture having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the reduced diameter portion 13 thus allowing the intermediate flanges 3d to be coaxially located thereon. A narrow reinforcing strip 34 is bonded along the radially innermost end of the support member 15 and has a contour identical to that portion of the support member 16 including notches similar to notches 22 and 32. Preferably the-reinforcing strip 34 is of the same materiales that of the support member 16. Of course, the reinforcing strip 3ft'- is secured to support member 16 prior to attachment of the intermediate flanges 3f). IThe reinforcing strip 3d provides two functions: it reinforces the radially inner portion of the support member 16, i.e. specific'allyrthat portion which is engaged by anges 24 and 30, to prevent damage under load and it permits the flaps 1A. to be assembled with a high density at the hub portion 16 for a radial distance equal to the width of the reinforcing strip 34. The individual fiaps 14, can be fixed to one another at the radially inner ends of their support members 16 and reinforcing strips 34 by means of a suitable adhesive.

In the above construction the hub portion 17 is stiff, with the flexibility of the work wheel 10 increasing radially outwardly from the location of the reinforcing strip or member 16. To increase the flexibility of the flaps 14, the abrasive members 18 are radially cut atvsubstantially even intervals to provide a plurality of fiexible finger portions 36. In order to prevent the work wheel 1t) from functioning as a plurality of individual, circumferential rows defined by the finger portions 36, the finger portions 36 on different flaps 14 are staggered or axially offset relative to each other. For example, looking now at FIGURE 3, a first pair of flaps 14a and 14b are pro vided with similarly located nger portions 36a and 36]), respectively. The next pairof fiaps 14e and 14d are provided with similarly arranged finger portions 36e and 36d, respectively, which are staggered or axially offset with respect to the finger portions 36a Aand 3617. The next pair of iiaps 14e and 14f are provided with finger portions 36e and 361, respectively, which are oriented similarly to those of the flaps 14a and 14b. Thus with this construction, the fiaps 14 while having greater flexibility as a result of finger portions 36 will still tend to function as a unit over ltheir work faces rather than as a plurality of individual rows. Other random arrangements of the finger portions 36 could be used. The finger portions 36 increase the fiexibility of thewheel 10 and allow it to more readily conform to the various contours to be finished. l

Looking now to FIGURE 1, the usable or wear por- 'tion of the aps 14 of the wheel 10 is indicated. Note that with the construction of the present invention a good percentage of the total abrasive surface of the work member 18 is utilized. It can also be seen that with a convert ltionally constructed One-piece abrasive fiap only a small portion of the abrasive surface would be used, thereby Wasting the remaining abrasive portion.

A modification of the finishing Wheel7 as shown in FIGURES l through 3, is shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 in which similar components serving similar functions are given the same numeral designation with the addition of a prime. Looking now at FIGURES 4 and 5 the work wheel 10 has a plurality of iiaps 14 each of which, similar to flaps 14, has a supporting member 16 and a reinforcing member 34' at its radially inner end. A pair of work members 1S are located on opposite circumferential Sides of and have their radially innerl ends partially overlapping the radially outer extremity of the support .member 16. The pair of work members 18 are fixed to the support member 16 by plurality of staples 29. In addition the overlapping portions can be secured by an adhesive. The working members 18' are abrasive coated paper or cloth while the support members 16 can be a non-abrasive resinated cloth.. A pair of axially extending notches 22 are disposed near the radially inner end of the support member 16. A pair of annular anges 24 have curved radially outer portions which are mateably disposable within the slots 22 and each terminate at their radially inner extremity in an axially extending flange portion which denes a bore 26' having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of an arbor portion 12. The work wheel 10 is of a smaller axial width than the wheel 10 and does not require intermediate tianges 30; depending upon the application, a plurality of work Wheels 10' could be placed side-by-side to build up a wheel having a greater width. The axially outer surfaces of flanges 24 could have means whereby adjacent wheels 10 would be keyed together to prevent relative slippage.

As can be seen from FIGURE 5, a considerable portion of the abrasive surface of the work members 18 is subject to Wear and is usable. In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 a plurality of finger portions 36', similar to the finger portions 36, are provided for added exibility.

With the constructions as shown in FIGURES 1 through 5, the point of attaching the work members 18 to the corresponding ones of the supporting members 16 of the individual diaps 14 can be varied and a rwheel of smaller or larger diameter can be provided.

While it will be apparent that the embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are Well calculated to fulfill the objects of the invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A work wheel comprising a plurality of aps annularly disposed and tightly packed at their radially inner ends to define a dense hub portion, each of said fiaps including a radially inwardly disposed flexible support member and a separate work member fixed to the radially outer end of said support member, said work member having an abrasive surface and having a plurality of radially outwardly extending finger portions.

2. A work Wheel comprising a plurality of flaps annularly disposed and tightly packed at their radially inner ends to define a dense hub portion, each of said fiaps including a radially inwardly disposed flexible support member and a separate work member fixed tothe radially outer end of said support member, said work member having an abrasive surface and having a plurality of radially outwardly extending linger portions, some of said work members having said finger portions axially staggered relative to said finger portions of others of said Work members.

3. A Work wheel comprising a plurality of aps annularly disposed and tightly packed at their radially inner ends to define a dense hub portion, each of said flaps inclu ding a radially inwardly disposed fiexible support member, a work member fixed to the radially outer end of said support member, said work member having an abrasive surface, and a reinforcing member of substantially the same thickness as said support member fixed to said support member at its radially inner end, said support member and said reinforcing member having axially extending slots on opposite ends, and a pair of annular tianges having radially outer portions matable within said axial slots, said work member fixed to said support member at a point radially beyond the radial termination of said flanges.

4. A work wheel comprising a plurality of flaps annularly disposed and tightly packed at their radially inner ends to define a dense hub portion, each of said flaps including a radially inwardly disposed liexible support member, a work member fixed to the radially outer end of said support member, said work member having an abrasive surface, and a reinforcing member of substantially the same thickness as said support member fixed to said support member at its radially inner end, said support member and said reinforcing member having a radially extending slot at their radially inner ends, an annular intermediate flange having a radially outer portion locatable within said radial slot, and plastic binding means disposed in said radial slot for fixing said flaps tto said intermediate flange.

5. A work wheel mountable for rotation on a shaft comprising a plurality of fiaps annularly disposed and tightly packed at their radially inner ends to define a dense hub portion, each of said flaps including a radially inwardly disposed iiexible support member, and a work member fixed to the radially outer end of said support member, said Work member having an abrasive surface, said support member having axially extending slots on its opposite axial ends; a pair of annular anges having radially outer portions matable Within said axial slots and each having a central bore of a diameter substantially equal to that of the shaft for supporting the work wheel on the shaft, said support member having a radially extending slot at its radially inner end-s; an annular intermediate fiange having a radially outer portion locatable within said radial slot and having a radially inner portion defining an opening substantially equal to the diameter of the shaft for supporting the work wheel on the shaft; and plastic binding means disposed in said radial slot for fixing said flaps to said intermediate flange.

6. A work wheel comprising a plurality of flaps annularly disposed and tightly packed at their radially inner ends to define a dense hub portion, each of said flaps ncluding a radially inwardly disposed exible support member, a pair of separate work members fixed on opposite circumferential sides to the radially outer end of said support member, each, of said work members lhaving an abrasive surface, and a reinforcing member of substantially the same thickness as said support member fixed to said support member at its radially inner end; said support member and said reinforcing member having axially extending slots on their axially opposite ends, a pair of annular tianges having radially outer portions rnatable within said axial slots and each having a central bore of a diameter substantially equal to that of the shaft for supporting the work wheel on the shaft; said support member and said reinforcing member having a radially extending slot at their radially inner ends, an annular intermediate iiange having a radially outer portion locatable within said radial slot and having a radially inner portion defining an opening substantially equal to that of that shaft for supporting the work wheel on the shaft; and plastic binding means disposed in said radial slot for fixing said flaps to said flange.

7. A work wheel comprising a plurality of flaps annularly disposed and tightly packed at their radially inner ends to deiine a dense hub portion, each of said flaps including a radially inwardly disposed exible support member, a pair of separate work members xed on opposite circumfereneial sides to the radially outer end of said support member, each of said Work members having an abrasive surface and having a plurality of radially outwardly extending linger portions, some of said work members having said finger portions axially staggered relative to said linger portions of others of said Work members, a reinforcing member of substantially the same thickness as said support member xed to said support member at its radially inner end, and means including a plurality of staples for fixing said Work member to said support member; said lWork member and said reinforcing member having axially extending slots on opposite ends, a pair of annular anges having radially outer portions matable within said axial slots and each having a central bore of a diameter substantially equal to that of the shaft for supporting the Work wheel on the shaft; said work memg ber and said reinforcing member having a radially eX- tending slot at their radially inner ends; an annular intermediate ange having a radially outer portion locatable Wit-hin said radial slot and having a radially inner portion dening an opening substantially equal to the diameter of the shaft for supporting the Work wheel on the shaft, and plastic binding means disposed in said radial slot for lixing said flaps to said intermediate flange, said work member fixed to said support member at a point radially beyond the radial termination of said anges.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,259,475 lO/41 Koether 51-337 2,804,730 9/57 Block 51-337 2,821,819 2/58 Bernstein et al. 51-337 2,978,845 4/61 Haven et al. 51-337 LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WORK WHEEL COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF FLAPS ANNULARLY DISPOSED AND TIGHTLY PACKED AT THEIR RADIALLY INNER ENDS TO DEFINE A DENSE HUB PORTION, EACH OF SAID FLAPS INCLUDING A RADIALLY INWARDLY DISPOSED FLEXIBLE SUPPORT MEMBER AND A SEPARATE WORK MEMBER FIXED TO THE RADIALLY OUTER END OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID WORK MEMBER 